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Designer Jeremy Scott made his runway debut at the 2014 Fall/Winter Fashion Show in Milan, Italy in February 20. In order to pay homage to Franco Moschino in the fashion house that he built, the designer from Missouri went all- out.

There were references to food companies like McDonald’s and Budweiser, food couture (yes, there were candy-bar-wrapper, gummy-bear and popcorn-bag dresses) and there were also references to Rue Cambon (and Chanel), that could be easily pin-pointed as models strutted down the runway in quilted leather jackets and embellished in gold chains.

Massimo Ferretti, chairman of Moschino’s parent company, Aeffe SpA, has said the designer change was necessary.

“Every now and again, fashion needs to be renovated and shaken,” said Ferretti. “Just as Franco did in the eighties.”

What many fashion bloggers anticipated to be a very controversial assortment turned out to be an overall accepted and even liked collection. In fact, the lateness of celebrity Katy Perry, who held up the show for an hour, made the crowd more unpleased than the quirkiness of the collection did. (It went from boos to cheers in a short period of time.)

Refinery29, Vogue, Style.com, and Glam had no complaints. Woman’s Wear Daily only had one complaint – and that was only because of Scott waiting on Perry and leaving fashion mavens waiting for the show to begin.

“Today’s Moschino presentation was a crowd-pleaser. Katy Perry and her friends in the front row were eating it up,” Tim Banks of Style.com said. “Scott’s embrace of consumer culture in the name of Moschino was bright, brash, and ingenious.”

Commenters on WWD article also seemed to think that the collection was successful.

“Kudos to Mr. Scott,” commented WWD site visitor Bacchus. “Never did like his work but this seems a fine fit and with the house’s execution, may just be a match made in heaven…”

Facebook users all around loved Scott’s bravery and wit.

“Some much needed wit and humor injected back into fashion again! ….Everything lately has gotten so pretentious and is just a pose that’s trying too hard to be ‘cool’,” Facebook user Eddi Frantz commented. “It was all crumbling under the weight of its own seriousness. Fashion needs to smile a bit more. It’s been a long time.”

Some users didn’t have lengthy, in-depth things to say about it, but still showed their adoration for his work.

“Impossible not to love!” Facebook user Marina Colerato said.

“Nowhere could the appearance of a McDonald’s reference seem so out of context and therefore appear so strong, than in a country that fetishizes its local cuisine, and where fast food has still largely to infiltrate,” Kerry Olson at Vogue wrote. Despite the wackiness of the collection, she praised Scott’s decision to dedicate pieces to conformity. “Smartly, though there was a dedication to some form of conformity too, seen in the label’s ladylike silhouettes; mainly pencil skirts, fitted jackets, and evening coats.”

The biggest downfall of the Moschino show was not the collection itself, but the appearance of Katy Perry (and the fact that she was an hour late). Otherwise, Scott’s collection received good feedback from fashion critics and fans.

“Amazing work! A pure presentation/mirror of our ironic time. Which is what fashion is all about. I was left really high by how intricate and intelligent the collection is. The mixing of the different codes is sooo crazy!!” Facebook user Maria Jaber praised. “You brought many of us faith that you could still play and absorb like a child, and then execute like a master. Chapeau bas! And thank you, a real big thank you Jeremy Scott.”

It’s a season of king cakes, parades, and purple, green, and gold. But let’s not forget the glitz and glamour galore! It wouldn’t be Mardi Gras without the glitz and glamour of the Mardi Gras Balls. Here are a few things to remember when preparing for your big night to standout in the crowd and dance the night away:

You don’t have to stick to the traditional seasonal colors; add a punch of color and style with with vivid hues or soft pastels. Either way will have a huge impact.

Be prepared with a change of shoes by putting a stylish pair of jeweled ballet flats in your clutch. Who says you can’t maintain comfort and style, even when you’re rocking out the night on the dance floor!

Accessories can make all the different in completing an outfit. Glam it up with a fabulous pair of dangle earrings, a statement necklace or a great cuff. It’s your night to walk the red carpet.

Give your makeup extra attention and staying power by using a lip primer before applying your favorite lip color. There’ll be no need for frequent touch-ups!

Trying to figure out how to stay within budget and still have variety of looks that can be worn for the half dozen balls you’ll be attending in a 3-day period? Consider purchasing a two-piece set, such as a basic black skirt that can easily take on a new look with a quick change of the top. Very helpful to keep you in budget without having to repeat a look.

Mardi Gras nights often can be quite cool, so remember to carry an evening shawl or sparkly bolero jacket that will complement your evening gown.

Pay attention to small details; such as a signature style manicure that you can achieve yourself with the help of peel and stick nail art decor. Everyone will think it was done by a professional manicurist!

As the season continues in full force, let’s not forget the most important part for being a fashion diva…..being the Belle of the Ball!

There is a new trend that has begun. Bracelets with “Positivity” by Alex’s Angels are a thing that will have everyone talking. They are new and very unique but great to have around at the same time. These will help for those that wear them to think positive at all times.

Alex’s Angels has different varieties to choose from. Some are made with crystals, some with sets. You can get them in black, different colors or even just a tee shirt printed with “Positivity” on them.

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, they also have Irish “Positivity” bracelets for you to choose and wear. As the old ways are, if you’re not wearing green, someone will pinch you. They can’t if you’re wearing these.

The “Black Positivity Bracelets” will match any occasion, style or just for every day. Check out the photo for a unique view of these and how they are shipped, wrapped and carefully packaged.

This is brought to you by Alex’s Angels and written by Lia Burres. The item was given to me in exchange for my honest thoughts and review. There has been no other compensation, nor is there any intended.

You’re walking up fifth avenue and then bam! You get hit with all this color and not sure what it is you’re seeing. A mannequin in a crinkled Pucci dress with a hat-head in the center of a storm of honey combs, leaves, acid wash, and colors that take you for a spin. And at the bottom, a mirror absorbs all the images and confuses you even more.

It’s all this and more at Bergdorf Goodman’s window display by Peter Gerakaris at 58th street and fifth avenue in New York City. His display is titled “Rappaccini Origami Terrarium (Nocturnal View).” It’s a mixed media installation with origami sculpture, part of the new art installation “Art Matters!”

Kind of sounds like the name of an opera and so it is with a diva causing lots of drama in her own world spun with an explosion of origami. The center of this installation is calm like a tornado, but as you get towards the edges, the mayhem begins. Folded triangles cut into faces, honey combs bounce on top of each other, and then you think you figured it out and then wham, you didn’t.

How to avoid “Downton Abbey” withdrawal, now that Season 4 ended Feb. 23? No need to wait for Season 5 for your next dose.

Lady Sybil’s harem pants; Lady Mary’s engagement dress; Lady Edith’s wedding dress; tea dresses of the three sisters; tuxedos; as well as servants’ uniforms and livery from “Downton Abbey” will be shown at the 175-room manse, now Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

Meanwhile, back at “Downton Abbey”, will Lady Mary re-marry? If so, which of her suitors? Will Lady Edith find, and maybe marry Gregson? Will she get back their baby she gave for adoption? Did Mr. Bates avenge Anna’s rape? If so, did all the evidence go up in flames?

Fortunately, no need to wait for a “Downtown Abbey” fix. Get thee to Delaware while awaiting Downtown’s Series 5.

Personally shopping in a store is a marvelous activity (and excellent form of exercise) all in itself, however nowadays virtual shopping is a must as well. It’s an easy way to discover unique items that our limited options of shopping excursions will not always allow us to come across. We are exposed to new styles and ideas from personalities all over the globe. We can explore and identify a new something that we like, and within minutes, we have located that same item, added it our shopping cart and before we can grab our car keys, our latest must-have is heading directly to our front door.

I have found a few sites that make my life much easier and being that I aspire to make everyone else’s lives easier as well, I will happily share. Today I will discuss the wonderful world of asos. ASOS (pronounced ACE-OSS) is the UK’s largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer, offering over 60,000 branded and own label products across womenswear and menswear. The idea of ASOS started in 1999 as an internet business where people could find clothes or accessories they had seen celebs wearing. The company began with this concept and within a few years they began to sell more fashion than just clothes that had been ‘seen on screen’.

One of my favorite reasons to shop on this site is the View Runway feature. Along with photos of different angles and views, each garment is displayed being worn down a small runway, showing exactly how the item looks, moves and flows. I don’t know about you all, but I have had many experiences of receiving an item and being surprised at how it actually appears in ‘real life’. E-commerce stylists are paid to make a stores merchandise look good, and many items are pinned, stretched or altered to look more appealing. This is not evident until we receive these items and find that they fit differently than how displayed on the site. So being able to see the garment worn by someone is very helpful in determining if it is what you are looking for or not.

Another gratifying feature of the site is their Fashion Finder section. Here you can find the freshest fashion trends and the street style skinny, plus the best outfit ideas created by members to inspire your fashion forward look. You will also find What to Wear ideas, for style advice for any occasion. You can browse women’s fashion tips by event, and if you’re feeling inspired, create your own outfit too. Fashion Trends are displayed showcasing the lowdown on the biggest catwalk trends. You can take inspiration from the most influential designers, before styling your own outfits and uploading your fashion forward looks.

A fun way that this site stands out, is that they offer a Marketplace where anyone, anywhere in the world, can sell fashion, to anyone, anywhere in the world. You can sell individually for free or can apply for a boutique if you have a small business or brand. What an epic way for thousands of individuals just like me, selling their wardrobes to fund their next fashion fix.

Last, but not least, the price points found at asos can fit just about every budget. They constantly run sales, on current season items, which makes it all the more easier to justify trying out new styles. Shipping is free to over 190 countries, as well as returns, which makes shopping here essentially risk-free. Before checking out, be sure to check the site for any coupons, which are typically always available.

I highly recommend adding asos to your current must-shop sites, and as a result your shopping world just may be rocked.

This year’s winners included newcomer Lupita Nyong’o who won for “Best Supporting Actress” for her role in the movie “12 Years a Slave” and actor Jared Leto for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a transgender man in “The Dallas Buyers Club”.

One of the highlights of the night was when Twitter’s website went down because of too much traffic on the site due to Oscar’s host Ellen DeGeneres’s “selfie” . Ellen twitted a live “selfie” with some of the Hollywood stars at the show and the picture was retweeted more than 1 million times breaking Twitter’s record which was set by President Barack Obama after his re-election.

Another highlight of the night was when Ellen order pizza and gave it to the audience who happily accepted including Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt.

But let’s face it, we watch the Oscars because of the red carpet fashion. Hollywood stars look their best as they hope to win the coveted award.

Take a look at pictures of some of our favorite picks of the night in the slideshow and tell us which one is your favorite.

One of the most exciting parts of The Oscars (and any award show, really) is seeing what the celebrities are going to bring to the table (or carpet). This year, at the 86th Academy Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, that took place yesterday, March 2, fashion critics and fans were overall pleased with the fashion that hit the red carpet.

While there were some celebrities that made us think “What were you thinking?” others were so stunning that we couldn’t help but put our televisions on pause and stare at them.

Luckily for some of the stars and best-dressed of the Red Carpet, like Blanchett, Bullock and Nyong’o, they were able to show off their flawless dresses when accepted awards for some Academy Awards. All 86th Academy Award winners are:

Best Picture – 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

Starting today, Visit Fort Wayne announced a contest offering a coveted VIP experience at the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale, located in Fort Wayne, IN. The contest runs through Monday, March 24 and features a Fort Wayne Girlfriend Getaway and VIP experience at the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale.

Every year the Vera Bradley Outlet stages a gigantic sale where savvy shoppers can save 40-60% off retail prices on Vera Bradley’s great handbags, luggage, and accessories. It is expected that over 60,000 women will be checking out the sale running from April 9-12, 2014.

So what are you waiting for? Grand prize winner receives four VIP tickets to the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale for Friday, April 11. In addition, winners will enter the sale prior to the official door opening and will receive VIP check out as well. Prize package includes a grand cargo bag, grand cosmetic, all-in-one cross body tote, umbrella, and ditty bag. Guests of the winner receive a grand tote, cross body tote, and umbrella. Plus, the lucky winner and her three guests will receive an over night stay at the Courthouse Marriott for April 10.

Can’t wait to tune in and watch all that red carpet glamour about to take over Hollywood this Sunday night?

If it’s not the designer dresses or bedazzled jewels the A-list ladies are modeling for the cameras, it’s their elegant clutches. Those mini must-have purses filled with personal items like gum, lipstick and who knows what else are just as thoughtfully chosen by the star’s stylists as the rest of their ensemble.

One new accessories brand just getting into the mix is Swoon Luxe, a Los Angeles-based luxury collection of handbags, clutches, wallets, backpacks and leather cuffs made from the finest exotic skins including crocodile, snakeskins, lizard and ostrich.

What makes this collection so unique is its “Confessions of a Shopaholic” similarity; the line was created and designed by financial analyst, Helena Reich.

As a young girl, Helena’s parents surrounded her with music and art. When she wasn’t practicing the piano and cello, she would escape into a fantasy world of fashion as she spent hours in her room sketching paper dolls and purses.

In college, Helena studied finance and pursued a career in financial valuation where she consulted with major corporations in mergers & acquisitions and other valuation driven transactions. However, her true love for fashion was always there waiting in the wings. She finally hooked up with executive design consultant Heehyun Park and created Swoon Luxe.

All of Swoon Luxe’s handbags and accessories are hand-crafted by artisans who have dedicated their entire life to the craft. Finding the most skillful artisans in every corner of the world is a painstakingly difficult process. The crocodile bags are made by artisans who only specialize in working with crocodile skins. The ostrich and python skin pieces are hand crafted by craftsmen who specialize in those skins.

In the world of “the wild”, the quality of skins is the foremost concern. The qualities and material costs between a Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus Niloticus) and a Caiman (Crocodilus Fuscus) differ significantly. Nile Crocodiles, along with Australian Saltwater Crocodiles (Porosus Crocodile), are considered the most luxurious and prestigious crocodile skins in the world. Swoon Luxe only purchases the highest rated Nile Crocodile skins that are farm-raised in our pursuit of conserving “the wild”. Their skins are supplied by prestigious leather tanneries located in Singapore, South Africa and Italy.

In fact, the crocodile skins used by Swoon Luxe are imported from a leather & tannery that also provides the skins to the most prestigious and exclusive fashion house in the world.